'Fashion magazines are written BY slim women FOR slim women, don’t read them if you are fat': Plus-size bloggers bite back as they star in new designer shoot for Evans

Plus size brand Evans has used bloggers in its latest shoot
Blogger Bethany Rutter says that high street fashion is behind the times
Fellow blogger Georgina Horne wants to end body tyranny
Writers pose in latest designs by design duo Clements Ribeiro

PUBLISHED: 06:32 EST, 1 May 2013 | UPDATED: 07:33 EST, 1 May 2013

Fashion has never been known for its love of fat. From size zero scandals to revelations that models eat tissues to stay slim, the pressure to be slender is on.

But one group of fashionistas is bucking the skinny trend.

The last few years have seen an explosion in 'fatshionista' blogs, with the curvy girls behind them stepping away from the computer and into the style spotlight.

Two of the most popular are Fuller Figure, Fuller Bust's Georgina Horne and Arched Eyebrow supremo, Bethany Rutter - both of whom star in Clements Ribeiro's new campaign for Evans.

Glamorous: Georgina poses in the paint stroke swimsuit, £35.50, from the Evans range

Glamorous: Georgina poses in the paint stroke swimsuit, £35.50, from the Clements Ribeiro for Evans range

Fatshionista: Fellow British blogger Callie Thorpe also stars in the Evans campaign along with two American writers

Fatshionista: Fellow British blogger Callie Thorpe also stars in the Evans campaign along with two US writers

Despite their success and undoubted grasp of style, the pair have complained that the media - and the fashion industry as a whole - still fails to recognise that larger women want cool clothes too.

'[Fatshion blogging has become popular] simply because we don't have a face or a voice anywhere else,' explains Rutter, 22.

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'All UK fashion journalism is written by slim people for slim people, so there's almost no point reading magazines if you're fat.

'That's why the internet's become such an important place for plus-size fashion.'

Horne, 23, adds: 'Plus size bloggers are women who are not afraid to admit to being bigger, happy and fashionable.

'With so much pressure to shift those extra pounds and tone up for summer, we are a breath of fresh air. It's OK to be fat. Fat doesn't mean unhealthy, undesirable or a failure. It's just a size.'

What's more, notes Rutter, ignoring bigger women puts the fashion industry at odds with one of the biggest social trends of the last 50 years: the fact that people are getting fatter.

Fashionable: The bloggers, including Horne (far left) and Rutter (far right) pose with Clements Ribeiro

Fashionable: The bloggers, including Horne (far left) and Rutter (far right) pose with designers Clements Ribeiro

Blogger: Bethany's blog, Arched Eyebrow, shows how larger ladies how to make the most of their looks

Outdated: According to Rutter, fashion industry attitudes are very last season

According to the Department of Health, 'in England, most people are overweight or obese.'

And statistics released by the government would appear to back this up, with 61.3 per cent of adults and 30 per cent of children aged between 2 and 15 either overweight or obese.

Health problems associated with being overweight or obese cost the NHS more than £5 billion every year.

'We know people are getting bigger - that's a fact,' explains Rutter. 'The sooner fashion catches onto that the better.'

Despite their complaints, it seems that some parts of the fashion industry are beginning to take note, not least husband and wife design duo, Clements Ribeiro.

The pair have created a directional collection for plus-size emporium, Evans, which includes chic dresses and wearable little tops festooned with lashings of their trademark colourful print.

'After three collections in which we tried to create smart capsule wardrobes, including some serious eveningwear, we decided to come up with a surprise turn by creating a holiday range that is playful and easy,' explained Ignacio Ribeiro.

'The shapes are very casual and straightforward and the prints are full of wit. It is infused with the urban energy the bloggers inspired us with, but also ready for a week of fun in Rio.

Along with Rutter and Horne, other 'fatshion' bloggers to star in the campaign include UK writer, Callie Thorne and US fatshionistas, Nicolette Mason and Marie Denee.

Stylish: American blogger Nicollette Mason is one of two from across the pond to star in the Evans campaign

Help: Horne's blog, Fuller Figure, Fuller Bust, invites readers to break out of their comfort zone and enjoy fashion

Q&A WITH GEORGINA HORNE

Do you feel that the fashion industry is moving away from its thin ideal?

Personally, I don't see 'thin' or 'fat' or any other shapes or sized as a fashion choice.

Some women are naturally thin, some want to be thin, and fashion is not necessarily to blame or the only influence.

What I do think is that larger women are becoming more vocal and proud to be bigger. Not all of them want to lose weight and wear baggy sacks until it happens - they want choices, patterns, colours, daring cuts, a range of prices.

They want to see women who can wear those clothes modelling them, and they wants people to accept these facts. It's great to see an increase of larger models, if only they weren't called 'plus' size when they're not.

Do you have any tips for bigger girls who need a self-esteem boost?

First and foremost - confidence can not be gained by putting others down.

'Real woman have curves' and 'I'd rather be hungry than have diabetes' are stupid phrases that empower no one.

Be happy with yourself, and if you're not, and you can make positive changes then do so. Listen to the compliments people give you, not the insults.

What was your favourite part of the Evans shoot?

My favourite part was actually spending time with all the girls.

Those four ladies are so inspiring and passionate and I loved hearing such an intelligent debate take place.

Q&A WITH BETHANY RUTTER

Do you feel that the fashion industry is moving away from its thin ideal?

Yes! It's definitely upped its game since realising how much money there is in plus size fashion.

We know people are getting bigger - that's a fact - and the sooner fashion catches onto that the better.

The high street is a bit of a wasteland if you're fat - most branches of H&M and New Look just don't seem to carry their plus ranges, so that could definitely be improved.

I'm really grateful for the Swan collection because it shows Evans knows how to treat women who want sleek, chic, fun pieces on the high street, available for fat women.

Do you have any tips for bigger girls who need a self-esteem boost?

Get online! Create conversations on Twitter, find a support network of fellow fat girls, be inspired by what others are wearing, find your feet by looking at endless photos of sassy plus size women on Tumblr.

Knowing you're not alone makes a massive difference.

What was your favourite part of the Evans shoot?

Getting to meet Nicolette and Marie (who are, honestly, inspirations for the places you can go with fatshion if you work hard and are given the right platform), and hang out with Georgina and Callie who I already knew!

Oh and play with loads of fun clothes and accessories, AND meet loads of great new people who are making such an effort to keep Evans up to date.

CLEMENTS RIBEIRO FOR EVANS: FEMAIL'S PICK OF THE BEST

Zebra print t-shirt, £35, Clements Ribeiro for Evans

Graphic print t-shirt, £35, Clements Ribeiro for Evans

Floral print shift dress, £60, Clements Ribeiro for Evans

Floral print shirt dress, £45, Clements Ribeiro for Evans

All available from Evans.co.uk

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Just because the world is getting bigger doesn't mean it's healthier. There's a difference between fat and curvy, and fat is not attractive because we associate it with McDonalds and unhealthy lifestyles. So they can't sell magazines or clothes. And I know some fat people lets their pride get in the way of losing weight, so fat does not equal healthy.

- Lindsey , Virginia, 02/5/2013 02:09

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Any piece of clothing looks vile on a fat person... Save your money and go to asda - because trust me nobody will be checking you out ;) - jennifer , manchester, uk, 02/5/2013 00:40........ And with an attitude like that, there won't be many checking you out either. Lol what on earth makes you think we all want to be checked out anyway? Frankly, I couldn't care less what other people think of my dress sense or my weight, they really should just mind their own business... Mind you, I do think those clothes are hideous and unflattering and would be just as hideous if they were worn by a size 10!

- grumpyoldwoman , Tyne and Wear, 02/5/2013 01:53

Click to rate Rating 5

As a 20 year old girl who used to be obese and lost ~6st and now the healthiest she's ever been, please lose some weight if there isn't a medical reason meaning you can't. I'll get red arrows but it is much more enjoyable wearing the clothes in those magazines than the tent versions made for my old size!

- Kay , Cheshire, 02/5/2013 00:47

Click to rate Rating 19

Dear Bad Ass Ladies: I'm cheering on your brave efforts to confront this issue because it's high time someone did. Larger women are snubbed by the fashion world, discriminated against in the workplace, and treated with general contempt by men and women alike. Just remember that Oprah Winfrey's size never stopped her from becoming one of the most inspiring and successful women in the world. You go, girls!

- Anon , NorCal, 02/5/2013 00:47

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Any piece of clothing looks vile on a fat person... Save your money and go to asda - because trust me nobody will be checking you out ;)

- jennifer , manchester, uk, 02/5/2013 00:40

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The reason that fat people in general are not visually attractive is because the fat obscures bone structure and musculature. Regardless of how "pretty" you are these two attributes rule the roost. If I can't see your muscles or your underlying bone structure then I can't see "your body". I would have to agree that pro-fat bloggers are promoting ill health. But, that being said it is hard to control your body and people that are fat should not be "written off". They are human beings and should be treated as such. But wrongheaded promotion of fat is ridiculous.

- royalmountainmedia , York, 02/5/2013 00:38

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Frankly I just wish bigger women could boost their confidence without resorting to putting down thin women. Sick of the double standard of how it's okay to say someone is 'too skinny' or has a body 'like a 12 year old boy.'

- dailymail86 , Auckland, New Zealand, 02/5/2013 00:25

Click to rate Rating 10

I'm on the wrong side of a size 16 and let me tell you, I have cleaned windows with better looking rags than these 'fashionable' clothes. They're absolutely vile! I wouldn't buy them if they were being sold for Â£1. Being a chunky lass myself, I want to see well designed, well cut clothes with clean lines and NO garish or animal prints. i dont want to look like I've escaped from a wild life reserve, nor do i want to dress like an explosion in a paint factory. These so called designers should get themselves to specsavers.

- HarleenQuinn , Newcastle, 02/5/2013 00:19

Click to rate Rating 24

Excuse me, I'm a size 12 and consider myself to be perfectly normal thank you! So many articles these days suddenly implying the only "normal" ones of us are those that are overweight?! It's just as dangerous to have overweight role models as underweight ones!

- Chloe , Bristol, 02/5/2013 00:14

Click to rate Rating 12

Oh come on. I'm curvy, but these girls ain't curvy, they're FAT!

- surreygirl , Surrey, 02/5/2013 00:04

Click to rate Rating 17

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